Five of the participating centres are in Calgary, five are in Edmonton, and the others are spread out across the rest of the province.

“I think it’s great,” one parent told Global News. “Daycare is super expensive and it’s unfortunate that a lot of people can’t afford daycare, so I think this is a great opportunity. I hope it works.”

The program will create 1,296 affordable child-care spaces – 714 of which will be new. The province said 119 new child-care staff will be hired to support the program. Children aged zero to six are eligible.